Motivated or driven by design considerations, especially with regard to aesthetic or functional criteria, rather than commercial or consumer requirements (sometimes opposed to demand- or market-led).
Origin
1980s; earliest use found in The Guardian.
Definition of design-led in US English:
design-led
adjective
Motivated or driven by design considerations, especially with regard to aesthetic or functional criteria, rather than commercial or consumer requirements (sometimes opposed to demand- or market-led).